Sexual Immorality and Fornication

DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Below are NINE different types of fornication or sexually immoral acts. Any person who practices any of the nine things listed below is a fornicator or a sexually immoral person and will suffer the eternal fires of Hell -Unless they repent and cease their fornication or sexually immoral acts. As it is written:

"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone . . ." -Revelation 21:8

If you feel convicted by this article, know that there is hope! If you are reading this article, you still have time to cry out to God in repentance and be delivered from these wicked things! As the Lord Jesus Himself said:

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." -Jesus (Revelation 3:19)

Indeed, many who previously led lives as drastic sinners have repented and now live unto God in righteousness. If you are guilty of any of the things listed in this article you must repent and begin to obey the commandments of Christ delivered to us by the Apostles of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. However, if you do not repent and turn from your wicked ways, know that your fate is fixed: To spend eternity in the torment of hellfire; as it is written:

". . . they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." -Revelation 14:11 & 20:10

NINE FORMS OF FORNICATION OR SEXUAL IMMORALITY:

1. Sex Outside of Marriage

Any kind of sexual activity outside the confines of a marriage between a man and a woman is "fornication" or "sexual immorality." As we learn from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, to even look upon a person we are not married to with lust is considered by God to be sexual immorality. As it is written:

"'You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.'" -Matthew 5:27-28

Indeed, a man should not even touch a woman in a sensual or sexual way unless he is married to her (1 Corinthians 7:1), but when two people actually engage in physical, sexual intercourse with each other when they are not married to each other, it is far worse than just "lusting" or "adultery of the heart;" this is when two people actually sin against their own bodies; as it is written:

"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." -1 Corinthians 6:18

I warn you here and now in the sight of God and His holy Angels: Any sexual embracing, kissing, or even touching of a person that you are not married to is sexual immorality. Those who practice such things and do not repent and cease will never enter the Kingdom of God, but shall be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).

Repent, therefore, and cease all fornication or sexual immorality!

2. Adultery

There are two forms of adultery mentioned in Scripture: Adultery of the heart (Matthew 5:27-28), and actual, physical adultery (Exodus 20:14). However, it should be noted that within these two forms of adultery, God considers a man who has sexual relations with another man's wife, or a woman that commits adultery on her husband the absolute worst forms of adultery (and indeed, one of the greatest sins a human can commit).

Both a woman who committed adultery on her husband, or a man that had sexual relations with another man's wife, in the Old Testament, were under the penalty of death; as it is written:

"The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death." -Leviticus 20:10

Those who commit such things today are usually not put to death for it. Nevertheless, those who commit adultery are sexually immoral people and will be cast into the eternal fires of hell (Revelation 21:8) unless they repent and cease their sinning.

3. Sexual Immorality Within Marriage

Some people (including some Christians) are of the opinion that when a man and a woman marry each other, they are free to practice whatever they desire with each other. This is not true. Just because someone has exclusive sexual relations with their spouse does not exclude them from the sin of sexual immorality. Sexual immorality can, in fact, be committed within a marriage.

There are two acts which the Bible declares strictly forbidden to married couples: Sodomy (Romans 1:26) and sex during menstruation (Leviticus 18:19).

Anyone that practices either of these things, even though they may be married to the person they commit them with, is a sexually immoral person, and shall be cast eternally into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8) unless they repent and cease their sinning.

4. Pornography

Almost anyone familiar with the Scriptures recognizes that pornography is a sin. The problem, however, lies in their own hypocrisy. While they denounce an "X" rated movie, they watch a sensual "R" rated movie with gleeful anticipation. Make no mistake about it and do not be deceived: Purposefully watching and enjoying any sexual activity or any nakedness is pornography and thus, is sexual immorality.

More than this; if a person decides to "entertain" themselves by watching pornography, or sexual scenes in popular films, they are supporting this type of behavior -either financially, or by affirmation.

Lot, Abraham's nephew, was considered righteous because he was vexed by the filthy conduct and conversation of the wicked (2 Peter 2:6-8). Why are some that claim to be Christians not vexed by these things?

As we covered in the first part of this article, to even look upon a person we are not married to with lust is considered by God to be sexual immorality. As it is written:

"'You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.'" -Matthew 5:27-28

Make no mistake, and do not be deceived! Those who participate in the lustful viewing of pornography are sexually immoral and will never enter the Kingdom of God, but will be thrown into the everlasting fires of hell -Unless they repent, cease from their sinning, and turn to practice righteousness before God.

5. Immodesty and Sensuality

Today, it is almost impossible to escape sexually immoral images. They are plastered upon billboards, displayed in the windows of retail stores, used in all sorts of advertising; it even creeps into your own home through television and internet.

Make no mistake, a man or woman that purposefully behaves or dresses in a sensual manner, is a sexually immoral person and will never enter the Kingdom of God, unless and until they repent and turn from their wickedness.

Women are commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9). To find out more on about modesty, read my article entitled Biblical Modesty.

Remember that it is written:

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea." -Mark 9:42

Those that practice immodesty or sensuality not only sin, but they cause others to sin as well by purposefully attracting the lust of others. Those who do such would be better off doing what Jesus suggested in the above Scripture.

Those who continue to practice immodesty or sensuality shall be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone -Unless they repent and turn from their wickedness unto righteousness.

6. Homosexuality

There are actually some who believe that a person who practices homosexuality can be a Christian at the same time -This is a lie. It is written:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Homosexuality is a grave, mortal sin and clear sexual immorality (Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:26-32). Those who practice homosexuality, and do not repent, shall be thrown into the everlasting flames of hell where "Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48; Isaiah 66:24)

Homosexuality is a plague on humanity. It spreads disease and death and ultimately leads to the fires of hell, Just as the Apostle warns:

"... For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." -Romans 1:26-32

There is hope for you, whoever you are who practice homosexuality. If you are reading this than you still have the breath to cry out to God in repentance of your sins! Know that it is written:

"Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:9b-11

You too can be washed from the filthiness of homosexuality! Repent! Turn from your sin and cease to be a homosexual! But if you do not cease your sin and turn from your filthy wicked ways, know that your fate is fixed: to spend eternity in the torment of hellfire (Rev 21:8).

7. Incest

Incest is sexual immorality. Those who practice it shall never enter the Kingdom of God -Unless they repent of their wickedness and turn to righteousness.

Incest is clearly defined in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 18). You shall not uncover the nakedness, nor have any sexual relations with (1) siblings, (2) step-siblings, (3) in-law siblings, (4) parents, (5) step-parents, (6) in-laws, (7) aunts, (8) uncles, (9) grandparents, (10) step-grandparents, (11) in-law grandparents, (12) children, (13) grandchildren, (14) step children, or (15) children in-law. Nor shall you have relations with (16) a woman AND any of her children (whether at the same time or at other times), or (17) a woman AND her sister (whether at the same time or at other times).

(Note that God NEVER forbids cousins to marry, even though it is considered taboo in modern western culture.)

Any who practice such things are sexually immoral and shall never enter the Kingdom of God -Unless and until they cease their wickedness and repent of their sins.

8. Bestiality

A person that has any sort of sexual relations with any animal is sexually immoral (Leviticus 18:23) and shall never enter the Kingdom of God- Unless and until they repent of their sins, cease their wickedness, and turn to God with their whole heart.

9. Male Femininity and Female Masculinity

Any man that acts or dresses in a feminine manner is a sexually immoral person. Any woman that acts or dresses in a masculine manner is a sexually immoral person. It is written:

"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God." -Deuteronomy 22:5

and again:

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (KJV)

An effeminate man, even though he may not practice homosexuality, is sexually immoral and will never enter the Kingdom of God -Unless he repents and forsakes his effeminate behavior.

Women that dress or act like men shall never enter the Kingdom of Heaven -Unless they repent and submit to the Word of God- for such a thing is absolute sexual immorality.

Those who do not repent of their male femininity or their female masculinity shall be thrown into the everlasting flames of the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8) -Unless they repent and forsake their wicked ways.

DEALING WITH FORNICATORS OR SEXUALLY IMMORAL PEOPLE

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself encountered sinners of all kinds throughout His sojourning here on Earth. Some of them recognized that they were sinners in need of salvation, and were willing to hear Him. It was these types of sinners that Jesus ate with (Mark 2:16-17), calling them to repentance (Mark 2:17).

Other sinners were REJECTED and STERNLY WARNED by Jesus (Matthew 23:33) because they refused to acknowledge their sins and hear Christ's warning.

Today, Christians are called to go out into the world calling sinners to repentance, and teaching them to observe all things which Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). Some sinners are willing to recognize that they are sinners and to hear you, others believe that they are just fine and in need of no repentance. The first group that acknowledges their sin and is willing to hear you are those that we must seek out and warn. Those of the second group, who refuse to acknowledge their sins, we must REJECT and STERNLY WARN as Christ did.

However, there are some who actually claim to be Christians, but still live in sin. It is these types which we must absolutely shun and have nothing to do with -In fact, we must not even eat with these types of people. As it is written:

"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person." -1 Corinthians 5:9-11

Notice that it is those who call themselves "brothers," but are any of the things listed, that we must not associate ourselves with, or eat with.

If you encounter someone that claims to be a Christian, but is any of the wicked things listed above, warn them once and then warn them again, but if they will not repent have nothing to do with them; as it is written:

"Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." -Titus 3:10-11

On the other hand, there are some that lead holy lives, abstaining from wickedness, but that either walk disorderly, or do not keep the traditions delivered to us in Scripture -These we must withdraw from; as it is written:

"But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." -2 Thessalonians 3:6

We do not completely shun and avoid these types, or treat them as heathen (as we would those who claim to be Christian but live in sin), but we should not be fellowshipping, worshiping, or partaking of the sacraments with them. We must "withdraw" from them, but we must also continue to "convince, rebuke" (2Timothy 4:2), and correct them (James 5:20) as the Lord gives us opportunity.

THE MERCY AND FORGIVENESS OF GOD

If you are a sexually immoral person you are undoubtedly bound for the fires of hell -Unless you repent! Behold, the mercies of our God:

"If a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?"" -Ezekiel 18:21-23

God has no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked and desires you to repent and come to Him for the forgiveness of your sins! Repent therefore, and begin to obey the Gospel of our God!

"As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die . . .'" -Ezekiel 33:11

Indeed, God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Therefore, REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! And begin to OBEY the commandments of the Lord!

May God our Father have mercy upon you if your repentance is sincere in the Name of His Holy and Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.